Superstrate sub-cell voltage-matched multijunction solar cells

Title: Superstrate sub-cell voltage-matched multijunction solar cells

Voltage-matched thin film multijunction solar cell and methods of producing cells having upper CdTe pn junction layers formed on a transparent substrate which in the completed device is operatively positioned in a superstate configuration. The solar cell also includes a lower pn junction formed independently of the CdTe pn junction and an insulating layer between CdTe and lower pn junctions. The voltage-matched thin film multijunction solar cells further include a parallel connection between the CdTe pn junction and lower pn junctions to form a two-terminal photonic device. Methods of fabricating devices from independently produced upper CdTe junction layers and lower junction layers are also disclosed.

Inventors:: Mascarenhas, Angelo; Alberi, Kirstin

Issue Date:: 2016-03-15

OSTI Identifier:: 1243032

Assignee:: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Golden, CO) NREL

Patent Number(s):: 9,287,431

Application Number:: 14/243,320

Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2014 Apr 02

Research Org:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org:: USDOE

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

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Other works cited in this record:

Monolithic voltage-matched tandem photovoltaic cell and method for making same
patent, November 1993

Stanbery, Billy
US Patent Document 5,261,969
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High efficiency multi-junction solar cells
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Voltage-matched, monolithic, multi-band-gap devices
patent, August 2006

Wanlass, Mark; Mascarenhas, Angelo
US Patent Document 7,095,050
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High-efficiency, monolithic, multi-bandgap, tandem photovoltaic energy converters
patent, November 2011

Wanlass, Mark
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URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/8067687

Monolithic, multi-bandgap, tandem, ultra-thin, strain-counterbalanced, photovoltaic energy converters with optimal subcell bandgaps
patent, May 2012

Wanlass, Mark; Mascarenhas, Angelo
US Patent Document 8,173,891
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